FanCityKnits 🇺🇦🧶Mar 8, 2023

How to explain 2 color brioche in 3 paragraphs (and one of them only tells you how many sts to cast on).

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/57767/pg57767-images.html

Pattern 4 - Gentleman's cuff

It's not the first historic pattern, I've seen, I know they tend to be ... brief. But if I didn't already know what to do for at least brioche - no way, no how.

#knitting #brioche #BriocheKnitting #fibercrafts #fiberarts @knitting @fiberarts #wool #yarn #ProjectGutenberg

Project Gutenberg has more such treasuries.

The Andalusian Knitting and Netting Book

Show threadJames
@FanCityKnits Concise to the point of obtuse! I love seeing how old patterns were written, even if it is sometimes a guide in how *not* to do it.
I wonder if all the techniques we've added over the years is one reason things have to be more clearly explained. The pattern says make 1, which we'd now expect to be yarnover, as make 1 means something else.
There's also all the history about why patterns were written, which I'm not an expert in at all but find fascinating to learn about.
#Knitting
Mar 8, 2023 at 3:52pmWeb
Show threadJamesMar 8, 2023
@FanCityKnits The bit that gets me is when people still try to replicate this style today, thinking it is 'proper' knitting style.
I hope knitting continues to make itself more and more accessible in the modern world.
#TechEditing #Knitting
Show threadFanCityKnits 🇺🇦🧶Mar 8, 2023

@DancingGeek
Well it is a proper style - for myself I much prefer the much shorter, conciser instructions from sources like drops.

Seeing a pattern with 20 plus pages of written instructions usually makes me run for the hills and not buying a pattern.

Can't there be something for everyone?

Show threadJamesMar 8, 2023
@FanCityKnits I agree it can go too far in the other direction, it needs to have enough information but not too much.
This is a valid way of writing, but I would argue that it is only appropriate for experienced knitters or in places (or times) where expert advice is easily available to help explain techniques. YouTube is not always enough. So it has its limits.
It is a style, but not 'the' style, and there are times I think it is more appropriate to shed this traditional way of writing.
Show threadJamesMar 8, 2023
@FanCityKnits Trying to help designers find a style that works for a wider range of experiences and preferences is part of what I enjoy in my work.
While I don't think there is one style that suits everyone, I do think there are enough different styles and designers to suit everyone (or most, there's always room for more) - but trying to find the pattern you like in the style you like is often a challenge, at least for me!
Show threadFanCityKnits 🇺🇦🧶Mar 8, 2023

@DancingGeek Oh, I didn't realize you're a Tech Editor. That's very cool.

Yes, finding the balance between too much and too little definitely is a challenge. I'm a really experienced knitter, I learned it back in the 1970ies and have been at it nearly all of the time - but to verbose patterns had me so confused that I started doubting whether I still knew what I'm doing. 😉